Here is Boise, Idaho

Here is
BOiSE, IDAHO
"City of Trees"
TO B 0 VIE A MEMBER.
R hi'0Rl't7ATION PH. 2- 0337
......----,--
HERE IS
BOISE, IDAHO
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Compiled by
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
OF BOISE
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509 single copy
409 ten or more copies
IUAHO STATE LIBRARY
BOiSE, IDAHO
FOREWORD
This booklet is a summary of the facts gathered
in the course of a "Know Your Town" survey conducted
by the Boise League of Women Voters. This information
on Boise has been compiled as a public service to the
citizens of Boise that they may be better acquainted with
the duties of the officials they elect and with the services
provided by the city government. While the booklet deals
primarily with facilities of Boise City government, it al­so
includes services provided by public agencies not only
to citizens within the city limits but to those residents of
the vicinity comprising the area known as Greater Boise.
The League of Women Voters of the United States
is a non-partisan organization formed in 1920 and is de­voted
to the purpose of promoting informed and active
participation of citizens in government.
The League wishes to acknowledge with apprecia­tion
the courtesy and help extended to them by the many
officials of the city and social agencies in the community
who assisted in the preparation of this booklet. League
members who have assisted in the study include Mrs.
C. R. Schweitzer, chairman, Mrs. Leslie Dieter, Mrs.
Edna Carpenter, Mrs. Terrill Carver, Mrs. W. L.
Venning, Mrs. E. N. Torbert, Mrs. Charles Cortright,
and Mrs. Hal Pickett. Cover illustration by Mr. Bill
Hart.
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CONTENTS
Page
Foreword---------------------------------------- i
~ap-------------------------------------------- ii
A View of Boise---------------------------------- 1
A Bit of History---------------------------------- 4
Physical and Economic Aspects -------------------- 5
Community Life----------------------------------- 6
Form of Government------------------------------ 7
Administration----------------------------------- 8
Finances-----------------------------------------9
Health Facilities ---------------------------------13
Public Welfare Facilities -------------------------19
City Protection---------------------------------- 23
Streets, Transportation, Utilities----------------- 25
Public Properties------------------------------- 28
Education--------------------------------------- 29
Recreational Facilities--------------------------- 32
City Planning and Zoning------------------------- 34
Building Code----------------------------------- 35
Boise City Civil Service System------------------- 36
Political Organization and City Elections----------- 37
Supplement No. I - City Officials------------------ 39
Supplement No. II- Public Service Phone Numbers --40
A VIEW OF BOISE
Boise, the capital of Idaho, is dramatically and stra­tegically
located. It lies in the easily accessible south­west
area of the state at the eastern end of broad flatlands
bordering the Boise River. Irrigated farms stretch away
to the west along the river. In sharp contrast the dry but
irrigable Mountain Home plain follows the north bank of
the Snake River to the southeast. North and east of Boise
mountains rise steeply to five and six thousand feet above
sea level in about eight miles. The slopes are partly cov­ered
with sagebrush which gives way to chapparal, then to
ridges of fir, pine, and spruce. On these slopes sheep and
cattle graze. Upstream on the Boise River, to the east,
are Lucky Peak, Arrowrock and Anderson Ranch Dams
which store irrigation water for the broad flat part of the
valley west of Boise. To the south two irregular benches
or steps follow the Boise River through the city and beyond
to the west. In the distance to the southwest may be seen
the Owyhee Mountains frequently covered with snow.
Situated at an elevation of about ~. /10 feet on the west­ward
flanks of the Rocky Mountains and in the path of dilu­ted
warm wet winds from the Pacific, Boise has a climate
that is dry and temperate with sufficient variation to be
stimulating. Though days are frequently hot in summer,
evenings are almost always cool. Winters are generally
not very cold. The average daily maximum temperature
for the summer is 84 degrees and for winter, 27 degrees.
Average rainfall is 13 inches with the most precipitation
usually in February and the least in July.
Greater Boise, or the Boise metropolitan area, as
defined for study by the Metropolitan Planning Committee
of the Boise Chamber of Commerce and the Ada County
Zoning Board, extends north from Cloverdale School along
Cloverdale Road to Hill Road on the north. It follows Hill
Road, takes in the new developments of the Highlands, and
Aldape Heights and Warm Springs Park. It follows the
river to Barber bridge; extends west three miles, north
one mile and seven miles west back to Cloverdale School.
The center of Boise City is now at about 11th and
Front Streets and the general growth for the past tenyears
has been west and south. The center of Greater Boise as
tentatively described above is approximately at Americana
Boulevard and the Boise River.
Boise's main business districts and older tree-shaded
residential sections stretch east and west along the Boise
River to the foothills on the north and east and to the bench
lands south of the river. On these higher areas newer resi­dential
districts are developing. On the bench shopping
centers have grown up to serve the new residents. Along
Highway 30 various businesses have sprung up together
with residences just off the highway -- an area of about
two or three square miles which has been incorporated
and is called Garden City.
The main retail commercial district extends from ap­proximately
5th to 11th Streets and from Grove to Jeffer­son.
The industrial section which includes lumber yards,
planing mills , an iron foundry, etc. runs in an irregular
strip along the railroad tracks and beyond from Broad­way
on the southeast to about Main and 27th Streets on
the northwest and from West Bannock almost to the river
in the southwest.
Within the city limits lie three major civic or cultur­al
centers. One is located almost in the center of Boise
at the north end of Capitol Boulevard. The State Capitol
Building is situated here with the Federal Building tothe
west on 8th ap.d Bannock, Ada County Court House to the
east on Jefferson, the Idaho Daily Statesman Building to
the east on 6th, and the Boise City Hall to the south on
Bannock. One can look from the Capitol steps across a
landscaped park down Capitol Boulevard over the bridge
across the Boise River to the Union Pacific Railroad Sta­tion
standing high on the first bench.
Within the shadow of the Spanish mission style rail­road
depot and its terraced garden lies the second major
cultural center. On the east side of Capitol Boulevard
just north of the Boise River stand the Idaho State Risto-
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rical Museum and the Boise City Art Gallery. These are
at the edge of Julia Davis Park. The City-County Health
Department buildihg, Campus School and Boise Junior
College are located between the river and College Boule­vard.
A third center of public activity is developing in the
area occupied by the Veterans Administration Center in
the northeast section of the city along Fort Street. Here
are located the new U.S. Army Training Center, Lincoln
Opportunity School, Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Center and
the circular Boise Little Theater. On Reserve Street is
the Idaho National Guard Armory. The park, which ex­tends
eastward into the mountains and is now part of Boise
City, is the original Fort Boise Military Reservation.
Outside the city limits to the east lies the Idaho State
Penitentiary and to the south is the Boise Municipal Air­port.
BOISE CITY'S IMPROVEMENTS COMPLETED
SINCE 1950
Since 1950 Boise has completed the following im-provements:
Expanded sewer and activated sludge treat­ment
plant (1950)
Recreation program with a full-time director
organized (1951)
Garbage disposal improved utilizing a sani­tary
land-fill and employing an inspector (1957)
City offices moved to new quarters at 5th
and Bannock (1950)
New jail adjacent to present City Hall (1952)
Bridge over Americana Boulevard (16th St.)
(1956)
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Two new fire stations (1950)
New city work shop (1950)
Three municipal swimming pools acquired
(1953)
New traffic system of one-way streets (1957)
Boise Barracks area acquired by city-­currently
being developed into Fort Boise Park
(1951)
****
A BIT OF HISTORY
Folklore of the Northwest tells that in the early 1800's
a band of French-Canadian trappers, after a long, hot and
dusty trip through the desert country southeast of Boise,
looked down into the tree-lush valley and cried "Les Bois!"
This was later anglicised to Boise, which is the name of
the present capitol city of Idaho. Boise River was at one
time known as Reed's River for a trapper, John Reed,
who was killed by Indians near its mouth in January of
1814. This river, wandering through pines and cotton­woods,
with willows leaning on its banks, was considered
the finest beaver trapping stream in the Northwest.· A
change of fashion, which sent the tall beaver hat to the
attic, brought financial disaster to many a trapper who had
counted his fortune in beaver pelts.
The discovery of gold in the Boise Basin by the Grimes
party in 1862, is reputed to have aided the Union in main­taining
financial solvency in the War Between the states.
For this reason, and the subordinate one of protecting
travelers using the Overland Road (the old Oregon Trail),
Fort Boise was established on July 4, 1863 at the sitethat
was to become Boise City. The city, 40 miles from the
Basin, became the logical freighting center for the digg­ings.
Soon farms were under cultivation in the fertile
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river valley to furnish produce for the growing community
and mines.
Boise in 1863 was an unincorporated area and under
a territorial form of government until Ada County was in­corporated
in 1864. A special Territorial Charter was
approved for Boise on January 11, 1866. There has been
one change in this basic form of government--in 1912
Boise voted to adopt the commission form of government
but in 1927, the city voted to resume its special charter
in an amended edition under which it has been governed
ever since, except for amendments made from time to
time by the State Legislature.
****
PHYSICAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS
The area of Boise has increased since 1950 from 6. 2
square miles within the city limits to 11.4 square miles
as of 1958. Greater Boise, for census purposes, has
been defined as the area within two miles of the citY limits.
Boise City's steady growth can be seen in the following
population figures:
1910
1930
1940
1950
17,358
21,544
26,130
34,151
As late as 1957, unofficial estimates by the Chamber of
Commerce gave Boise proper a population figure of
39,668 which, with Greater Boise's two mile outskirts,
brought the population estimate to 68,363.
Boise's wealth comes primarily from the farm lands
in the valley and from the sheep, cattle and lumber indus­tries.
The trade area extends from Glenn's Ferry, Idaho
on the southeast to Weiser, Idaho on the northwest. Boise
is the servicing and shopping center for 26 communities
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in 11 counties including Malheur County ineasternOregon.
This area includes 222, 346 people.
Although agriculture has long been the predominant
economic support for the area, industry is gaining a foot­hold.
Since 1950 new industries in the Boise area include
steel fabrication, foundries, sheet metal, concrete and
pumice, wood products , electric products , plastics, spec­ial
motor works, printing and book binding, a trailer
plant, and miscellaneous small industries.
AB the capitol city of Idaho, Boise has a large num­ber
of state capitol employees who add to the purchasing
power of the city as do the employees of regional and
federal organizations maintaining offices here.
Besides permanent residents of Boise, there are
many who visit the city throughout the year. Business­men,
legislators, students at Boise Junior College, mem­bers
of the Air National Guard from several western
states who train at Gowen Field are among those bring­ing
additional purchasing power to the city. Visitors
move in and out of Boise by plane and train or by auto­mobile
and bus on Highways 30, 40 and 44. Sportsmen
leave from Boise for hunting, fishing, skiing at Sun Val­ley
or other parts of Idaho's. mountainous areas. Within
the last few years motels have been increasi~ both with­in
and without the city limits.
****
COMMUNITY LIFE
Boise has one daily newspaper, The Idaho Daily
Statesman, which is published in a morning and evening
edition and Sundays. The Idaho Farm Journal, the Boise
Journal, the Garden City Gazette and the West Boise
Gazette are weekly newspapers. There are four radio
stations, KBOI, KGEM,KIDO, and KYME, and two tele­vision
stations, KBOI and KIOO. There are 76 churches
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representing 35 faiths. Social and welfare agencies in
Boise are numerous and there are over 130 fraternal
groups, service clubs, and charitable organizations. The
Boise Chamber of Commerce has prepared a list of all
such organizations, along with their current presidents
and type of organization.
There are no large minority groups in Boise but
there is the largest Basque population outside of the Pyre­nees
... a colorful, music loving people maintaining
many of their interesting old world customs and festivals.
In the early gold rush days, thousands of Chinese assisted
in extensive placer mining operations in Boise Basin. To­day
the remnants of a once bustling Chinatown, still stand
on North Capitol Boulevard as a memorial to cosmopoli­tan
pioneer days .
* * * *
FORM OF GOVERNMENT
Boise is one of three charter cities in the state of
Idaho. The Charter was originally enacted by the Terri­torial
Legislature in 1866. The powers delegated tothe
city, either by the Constitution or the Charter, must be
put into effect by city ordinance. Such ordinances make
up the City Code. Boise is governed by a mayor and four
councilmen with the mayor as executive and head of the
administration of the city. He is elected for a two year
term. The council constitutes the legislative branch of
the city government. Two councilmen are elected for
four years each at a general municipal election every odd
year. They are elected at large, at a general city elec­tion
held the first Tuesday in April, from the 15 voting
precincts in Boise.
****
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ADMINISTRATION
The mayor, with the approval of at least two mem­bers
of the city council, appoints the following: fire chief,
police chief, city attorney, commissioner of public works,
city engineer, street commissioner, and building inspec­tor.
With the advice and consent of the council, he ap­points
the treasurer, clerk and city magistrate. Employ­ees
of the police and fire departments are governed by
city civil service regulations.
Amendment to the Charter in 1949 established the De­partment
of Public Works which includes the Bureau of
Engineering, the Bureau of Waste Disposal, the Bureau of
Sewage Disposal, the Bureau of Streets, Rivers and Gul­ches,
and the Bureau of Traffic Control.
Special commissions and boards of citizens serving
in an advisory capacity without compensation are appoin­ted
by the mayor with the approval of the council. Among
them are the City Planning Commission, Recreation Com­mittee,
Board of Adjustment, Board of Appeals, Board
of Examiners, Safety Commission, and the Welfare Asso­ciation.
Four of these special boards have been created
by the City Charter and therefore have certain legal powers.
These are the Civil Service Commission, Board of Park
Commissioners, Library Board, and the Airport Com­mission.
The mayor and council have power to make and en­force
regulations pertaining to municipal offices and
affairs. The regulations expressed in city ordinances
cover such matters as police and fire protection, sanita­tion,
sale of liquor, street improvements, parks, light­ing,
water supply, etc. The mayor and council may pro­vide
for the punishment of the violation of any of the city's
ordinances by fines and imprisonment. A three-fourths
vote of the council is required to pass most ordinances
although routine business may be conducted by a two­thirds
vote (majority of a quorum).
The city council holds regular meetings every Mon­day
night at 7:30 P.M. in the city council room in the
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City Hall. These meetings are open to the public. In
case the meeting falls on a legal holiday, the meeting is
then held on Tuesday following such holiday at 7:30 P.M.
FINANCES
Boise City operates under a budget system, with
the mayor as the budget officer. On the third Monday
in June of each year, after examination by the city
council, publication in the newspapers, and a public
hearing, the council approves the final budget for the
fiscal year. The mayor and council hold the city purse
strings to the extent that they must authorize the ex­penditure
of all city funds. They also have the power to
levy and collect special taxes, to license and fine, and
with certain restrictions, borrow money for the city.
The mayor and council have power to issue tax an­ticipation
notes to provide funds in anticipation of the
collection of the taxes of the current fiscal year. The
amount borrowed by means of such tax notes shall not
exceed seventy-five percent of the taxes levied for the
current fiscal year and not yet collected by Boise City.
The city may raise money to finance special projects
with two different types of bonds. The direct munici-pal
obligation bonds which are liquidated by tax assess­ment,
and revenue bonds which are self-liquidating
from revenue received from the project which they have
financed. Revenue bonds may be issued only for the fi­nancing
of water facilities, sewer facilities, and the con­struction
of off-street parking facilities. Both types of
bonds may not be issued without prior approval by a two
thirds vote of the city taxpayers.
The city budget for 1957 called for the expenditure
of $2, 401, 907 during the fiscal year. This was $139, 000
more than last year's budget and represents a one mill
increase in the tax levy. The amount to be raised by
taxation is covered by a 43 1/2 mill levy which is one
mill higher than in 1956.
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City government financing in Boise is increasing -
ly becoming "Big Business. "
1954
1955
1956
1957
$2,055,611.84
2,149,457.00
2,262,607.27
2,401,907.00
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THE FOLLOWING IS A CHART SHOWING THE
DIVISION OF THE PROPERTY TAX RATE PER $100
VALUATION IN BOISE CITY 1956. THE TOTAL TAX
RATE OF $11. 988 IS DIVIDED AS SHOWN:
$4.25
BOISE CITY
35.5~
$1.784
ADA COUNTY
14.9%
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$0.825
BOISE JR.
COLLEGE
$4.765
BOISE INDEPENDENT
SCHOOL DISTRICT
EDUCATION
46.6%
THIS CHART SHOWS HOW BOISE CITY SPENDS ITS
MONEY
POLICE DEPT.
$275,935.60
ALL OfHER DEPTS.
$862,955,57
DEPT. OF
PUBLIC WORKS
$483' 043.50
FIRE IEPT,
$326,975.50
Fiscal year 1956-57 (May 1 to April 30)
Total Budget $2, 262, 607. 2 7
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HEALTH FACILITIES
CITY-COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Boise city's tax-supported health facilities are ad­ministered,
with some exceptions, by the City-County
Health Department with headquarters at 201 Sherwood
Street not far from Boise Junior College. This depart­ment
serves Boise City, Ada and Elmore Countieswhich
together comprise a health district. Each of these units
of government has a separate agreement with the State
Health Department which provides for the financing of
the local department. Besides funds supplied by Boise
City, Ada and Elmore Counties, the state and federal
government contribute money and some services. The
Boise Junior College District pays for nursing services
given to its students.
The medical director of the City-County Health De­partment
is a physician trained in public health. He is
appointed for Boise City b.y the mayor with the approval
of the city council. He is also appointed for Ada and
Elmore Counties by the board of commissioners of
each county. Ada County has a board of health consis­ing
of the medical director and two citizens who operate
under a county sanitary code. The sanitary codes of
Boise City and Ada County are alike in many respects,
thus assuring residents inside and outside the city limits
many of the same public health services meeting the
same standards.
The staff of the department includes, besides the
medical director, a district supervising sanitarian and
three sanitarians as well as one supervising public
health nurse and nine public health nurses. A part­time
biologist and part-time x-ray technician and three
clerical workers are also on the staff. The clerical
staff keeps records of births , deaths and diseases for
the public health district and issues birth and death cer­tificates.
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PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING AND
CLINICAL SERVICES
The nine public health nurses under a supervising
nurse visit the homes of expectant parents and hold well­baby
clinics. Under the direction of physicians the
nurses conduct clinics in which children with physical
handicaps are examined by specialists, arrange for
treatment when necessary and make follow-up visits.
At present, neurological, cleft-lip-palate and cerebral
palsy clinics are held at the City-County Health Depart­ment.
Immunization for all contagious diseases ex-cept
yellow fever is given free to all residents of Ada
and Elmore Counties. Chest X-ray examinations are
given. Immunizations for poliomyletis are available to
children from six months to nineteen years and to ex­pectant
mothers.
Besides regular public health service, the staff
gives visiting nurse or bedside care under the direction
of a physician to patients ill in their homes. This ser­vice
is financed by Ada County and by fees paid by pa­tients
who can afford to pay. In 1957 the Visiting Nurse
Association was included in the United Fund Campaign
to add additional nurses to the staff.
SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAM
The objective of the school health program is to ex­tend
the community health program to the school popu­lation
of the Boise Independent School District. The
medical director of the City-County Health Department
is employed on a part-time basis by the Board of Edu­cation
of the district.
Education in the maintenance and promotion of
health is the over-all purpose of the school health pro­gram.
Actual medical care is considered the respon­sibility
of the parents and a medical examination is rec-
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ommended for every child before he enters the first
grade.
Besides the part-time director. the school board
employs a speech therapist, and audiometrist, a dental
hygienist and six nurses. The headquarters for the pro­gram
are in the School Administration Building at 1207
Fort Street. Here the medical director is on call for
emergency service each school day morning. Here al­so
is located the dental clinic with the dental hygienist
who examines needy children referred through the school
dental care program. She also assists at the clinics
held by local dentists working on a voluntary basis to
provide dental care for children through the fourth
grade whose parents cannot afford to pay for such care.
The six school nurses provide liason between the
home and school and assist teachers in preparing health
education study units. They also give some emergency
care and make certain screening tests including eye
examinations.
MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM
The preventive mental health program began Janu­ary
1st, 1958 and consists of the operation of a county
mental health clinic, located at St. Luke's Hospital.
Some individual therapy is given but the general empha­sis
is upon group education. The staff includes a psy­chiatrist,
a full-time psychologist, a full-time psychia­tric
social worker and a part-time psychiatric social
worker. Ada County, the State of Idaho, the Federal
Government and voluntary contributions support the cli­nic
financially.
CITY AND COUNTY PHYSICIANS
A physician is employed by Boise City to examine
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employees of the police and fire departments to deter­mine
their eligibility for civil service. He also tre~ts
prisoners and emergency cases for which the city is
responsible. A physician is employed by the board of
county commissioners to care for indigent residents of
the county who are ill at home or for patients at the Ada
County Hospital.
HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES
There are six hospitals in Greater Boise, four of
them located within the city limits.
St. Alphonsus Hospital at 506 North 5th Street is
sponsored by the Roman Catholic Church. It has 164
beds including 24 bassinets. It has a geriatric and a
psychiatric ward. The hospital offers a three-year
training course for nurses.
St. Luke's Hospital at 310 North 1st Street is spon­sored
by the Protestant Episcopal Church. It has 161
beds including 40 bassinets. It has a pediatric ward
and a ward for contagious diseases. St. Luke's Hospi­tal
sends its student nurses to Boise Junior College for
a two year training course in cooperation with the hos­pital.
Both St. Alphonsus and St. Luke's Hospitals com­pleted
new additions to their buildings within recent
years. Half of the cost of these additions was provided
by federal funds under the Hill-Burton Act.
Booth Memorial Hospital at 1617 North 24th street
is a maternity hospital, one of the departments of the
Salvation Army. It serves as hospital and home for un­wed
expectant mothers who are given care regardless
of their ability to pay. It also accepts regular private
patients. It has a bed capacity of 18 but has accomo­dated
more when necessary. The hospital is one of the
agencies supported by the United Fund.
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Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Center at 204 Fort Street
is supported by the Idaho Elks Association. This new,
well-equipped building has 37 beds for crippled children
and adults and accomodates from 60 to 100 out-patients
in its modern treatment rooms. The Center also offers
education through the 8th grade to the physically handi­capped
on a day school basis. The State Crippled Child­ren's
Service and private sources pay fees of patients
from all parts of Idaho as do the National Polio Fund,
various insurance companies and the Easter Seal Fund.
The Center was built with federal and private money.
Veteran's Hospital. The Veteran's Administration
Center located on federally owned land outside of the
city limits on Fort Street includes a hospital with a 207
bed capacity. This hospital is maintained by the Fed­eral
Government and provides care for the veteran with
service-connected disabilities and for veterans with
non-service connected disabilities as facilities permit.
Nursing Homes are licensed by the State Depart­ment
of Public Health, under a state code of regulations.
There are 15 homes within the city limits with a total
of 149 beds. One of the largest of these is the Good
Samaritan Home at 3503 State Street. This convales­cent
home with 45 beds for ambulatory patients is spon­sored
by the Good Samaritan Society. outside the city
at 3115 Sycamore Street just off State Street is the
Boise Lutheran Sunset Home with 29 beds for elderly
ambulatory and bed patients. It is presently sponsored
by Lutheran churches in Boise Valley.
SANITATION FACILITIES
Testing and examining. The city and county sani­tary
codes include provisions for helping owners and
managers of sewage, garbage and water systems, food
handling establishments, dairy farms, pasteurization
plants, food factories and slaughter houses to meet re-
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quired standards. The sanitarians in the City-County
Health Department are charged with carrying out these
provisions. Testing of specimens to determine safety
of water and milk supplies as well as testing of blood
and body discharges for organisms that cause disease
is carried out largely by the laboratory of the State De­partment
of Public Health in the Capitol Building.
Sewage Disposal. Boise City operates and main­tains
a sewage disposal plant. It is an activated sludge
treatment plant operated at the end of Lander Street
just within the city limits downstream on the Boise
River. It went into operation in 1950 with 27, 200 users
and in 1956 had 28,256 users. The plant may be ex­panded
to accomodate about 10, 000 more users with­out
additional construction. An independent sewer dis­trist
has been formed to allow city and county conges­ted
areas on the bench use of the sewage treatment
plant facilities if the taxpayers of the district approve.
The Sewage Disposal Department with a superinten­dent
and a staff of 12 is part of the Department of Pub­lic
Works of Boise City. The superintendent reports
directly to the mayor and city council. A board of ap­praisers
consisting of five members appointed by the
mayor serves tor two years with the commissioner of
public works acting as secretary. The board deter­mines
the fees to be charged all property owners ser­ved
by the sewage disposal plant.
Garden City has its own disposal plant which may
be expanded fo serve more people. Residents of Ada
County who are not served by the Boise City or Garden
City sewage plant have private disposal systems. The
sanitary aspects of all sewage disposal systems are
under the direction of the City-County Health Depart­ment.
Garbage Disposal. Boise City has established a
system of garbage and trash collection, transportation
and disposal which every Boise City resident is requir­ed
to use. Licenses are issued to the operators and
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collections must be made twice a week from cans of a
specified size. Garbage and trash from Boise and cer­tain
county areas are disposed of in a sanitary land-fill
located at the west end of Gowen Field. It is estimated
that this gravel pit will serve the area for about ten
years. City and county share equally the cost of equip­ment
and operation. A garbage inspector has an office
in the City-County Health Department Building and he is
assisted by a sanitarian and biologist. He reports to
the medical director of the City-County Health Deaprt­ment
and also attends city council meetings.
Water Supply. The water supply for Boise and some
suburban areas is privately owned and operated by the
Boise Water Corporation. The source of supply is
from a system of 18 wells located in and adjacent to
Boise. Specimens are sent regularly to the City-County
Health Department for testing. Five of the 18 wells
have been brought into production within the last ten
years and the corporation estimates that it has enough
water sources in reserve to supply an estimate of
growth in population up to the year 1975. Residents who
do not use Boise Water Corporation's facilities pump
water from private wells, some of them jointly owned.
Any company supplying water to subdivisions is required
to send in water samples but people using private wells
are not, although the City-County Health Department
offers testing services to those desiring it.
****
PUBLIC WELFARE FACILITIES
STATE AND FEDERALLY FINANCED PROGRAMS
Administering public assistance and social services
to people in need is required by law of the Idaho Depart­ment
of Public Assistance. The activities of the depart­ment
are conducted through 28 local offices, each head-
-19-
ed by a director who is responsible to the state head­quarters
for all activities carried on in the area assign­ed
to his administration.
The Ada County office is located at 129 Broadway
and servec Ada, Boise, Elmore Counties and the Duck
Valley Indian Reservation. The local social service
staff consists of a county director, a senior child wel­fare
worker, seven case workers and a case reviewer.
An instructor for the blind also has offices at 129 Broad­way
but serves the entire district. These employees
are all hired through a merit system under the State De­partment
of Public Assistance.
The state department receives money for its opera­tion
from the federal government under Social Security
and Vocational Rehabilitation laws and from the General
Fund of the state treasury.
Services given by the local office include: old age
assistance, aid to dependent children, aid to the blind
and aid to the permanently disabled. Specialized ser­vices
include foster care licensing and adoptive investi­gations
for the courts. Assistance to the blind provides
medical eye care, home instruction and vocational re­habilitation.
Besides the above the local unit also administers
general social services to people in need. These in­clude
activities designed to bring about economic, social
and vocational adjustment of individuals and families.
In the local administrative unit, as in all others,
there is a County Council of Public Assistance which
acts in an advisory capacity to the professional staff.
This is a non-partisan board composed of one county
commissioner and four other citizens appointed by the
governor.
-20-
CITY AND COUNTY SUPPORTED PROGRAMS
A welfare worker with headquarters in Boise City
Hall provides emergency aid to people of the city and
the rest of the county who are not eligible for assistance
under the special services of the Department of Public
Assistance. She also determines who is eligible for
care by the county physician, for care in the county hos­pital,
and for county funds for medicine. She serves as
police matron in charge of welfare for the families of
prisoners in the city or county jail and works with the
sheriff, Boise police and Ada County prosecuting attor­ney.
She is the official representative of the Traveler's
Aid Society. Boise City and Ada County share expen­ses
for this service. An advisory welfare board headed
by the mayor and including a county commissioner, the
county physician and volunteers from civic organizations
meets monthly to discuss cases and problems with the
worker.
WELFARE INSTITUTIONS
Live, Inc. Two training and evaluation centers for
the severly disabled, including the blind, are maintain­ed
at 129 Broadway and 111 South lOth Street. These
centers seek to train severly handicapped people for
gainful employment and work closely with the state re­habilitation
agencies and other service agencies in the
community. In about three months the staff can deter­mine
whether an individual can be placed in industry
immediately, sent away for additional training, or kept
in a sheltered shop. The Idaho Department of Public
Assistance provides some salaries and most of the
equipment. All other expenses are paid for by Live,
Inc., a statewide organization. The Lions Club of
Idaho cooperated in establishing Live and still contri­bute
to its support.
-21-
IDAHO STATE LIBRARY
BOISE, IDAHO
Idaho Children's Home at 740 Warm Springs Ave­nue
is operated by The Children's Home Finding and
Aid Society of Idaho. The home, serving the southern
34 counties of Idaho, is a multiple service agency offer­ing
institutional care, foster boarding home care, coun­seling
services to the unmarried mother, and adoption.
About 300 children are placed in custody of the home
annually, many of them going into foster homes tempo­rarily
or permanently. There is an infirmary at the
home with a medical director. The executive director
and assistant are trained social workers in the child
welfare field. Only one-:third of the money for support
of the home is provided by the state; the rest comes
from voluntary contributions.
Soldier's Home is located within the city limits at
3701 State Street. It is owned and operated by the state
but its maintenance expenses are shared equally by the
state and federal governments. The home has a large
garden and dairy farm. There are accomodations for
125 elderly ambulatory veterans, some of whom help
with the work of the home. To be eligible, a veteran
must have served in war time, must have lived in Idaho
for two years prior to application for admission, must
have registered for and voted in the general election
preceeding admission. There is no charge for qualified
veterans. Residents who become ill are taken to the
Veteran's Hospital but generally there is a physician on
call.
PRIVATE WELFARE ACTIVITIES
Several private agencies, such as the Salvation
Army, the churches, service clubs and women's organi­zations
carry on full or part-time welfare activities
which either complement or supplement the work of the
agencies just described.
****
-22-
CITY PROTECTION
POLICE DEPARTMENT
The head of the police department is the chief of
police who is appointed by the mayor with the advice and
consent of the city coupcil. The department employs a
force of 54 officers and 8 clerks. Each policeman can­didate
must pass a city merit system agility test for
physical stamina, and must pass the city civil service
merit system examination. Permanent appointments
are made only after a six-month probationary period
and upon final approval of each candidate by the chief
of police. -
The FBI makes its training school facilities avail­able
to the local police department upon the latter's re­quest.
One or two of these training schools are con­ducted
each year.
The department is divided into four divisions: foot
patrol, detective, traffic, and juvenile divisions. Re­cords
are kept centrally. There is one policewoman on
the force who works mainly in the juvenile division.
Boise policemen are covered under the Boise City
Retirement Fund (see City Civil Service Section). The
city jail is located at Sixth and Bannock Streets. The
third floor has been converted into juvenile detention
facilities.
Law violators are also sent to the Ada County Jail,
Idaho State Penitentiary, St. Anthony's Industrial School
for boys and girls. Commitments are made by the pro­bate
and district courts according to the nature and ex­tent
of law violation. Both probate and district courts
use the facilities of South and North Mental Hospitals if
psychiatric evaluation is required by the courts. The
State Penitentiary, St. Anthony's and the courts all
maintain probation and parole officers. Under the Youth
Rehabilitation Act of 1955, juvenile offenders are turn­ed
over to the State Department of Mental Health for
-23-
evaluation or commitment to St. Anthony's.
The police department carries on a program of pub­lic
education in the prevention of juvenile delinquency,
traffic regulation, school patrols and accident preven­tion.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The fire department is under the direct supervision
of the fire chief, who is appointed by the mayor with the
advice and consent of the council. There are no volun­teers,
all employees being paid workers, selected from
the Civil Service lists, with the exception of the chief.
There are 74 employees, including fire alarm attendants,
maintenance, office personnel, fire prevention and fire
inspectors.
Applicants for jobs as firemen must pass a physi­cal
examination and a written city civil service test.
Each new employee is given a training course and placed
on six month probation. Each fireman is covered under
the Firemen's Retirement Fund (see City Civil Service
Section).
There are five fire stations in Boise City coopera­ting
with five fire districts located outside the city limits.
The city requirements are not mandatory for the Inde­pendent
Districts. The five Boise City stations are lo­cated
at:
#1. Sixth and Idaho Streets (Central Station)
#2. Seventeenth and Ridenbaugh
#3. Williams and Boise Avenue
#4. Kootenai and Protest Streets
#5. Sixteenth and Front Streets
The fire alarm headquarters are located at the
rear of the central station.
The five other fire districts outside the city limits
are the Air Terminal, Collister, Cole, Whitney-Frank­lin,
and Eagle. Triangle Dairy maintains a fire de­partment
of its own.
-24-
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
There is a fire prevention program with a Bureau
of Fire Prevention in the department consisting of the
chief, fire prevention engineer and an assistant chief
and the fire prevention inspectors. The bureau inspects
business establishments and homes periodically for fire
hazards and assists the building inspector in enforcing
fire prevention regulations. It sponsors public infor­mation
campaigns, carried out during Fire Prevention
Week.
****
STREETS, TRANSPORTATION, UTI~ITIES
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
Commissioner of Public Works, appointed by the
mayor with the advice and consent of the city council,
is responsible for the supervision of paving and main­tenance
of streets and public thoroughfares of the city
and the erection and maintenance of telephone and elec­tric
light poles, water or steam pipes or conduits,
sewers, and other underground construction. The pub­lic
works office makes payrolls, processes purchase
orders and does other administrative work for the en­gineering,
street, traffic and waste disposal divisions.
It performs similar administrative functions for street
lighting and improvement district construction.
Street building is financed through the creation of
local improvement districts. These districts provide
a method whereby public improvements may be made
in an orderly fashion under city supervision. The city
operates under the state law which provides for the
creation and use of local improvement districts. Pro­perty
owners may initiate the formation of a district by
submitting to the city council a petition stating the type
and extent of the improvement, and the number of semi­annual
payments desired (up to nine). The petition
must be signed by at least 60% of the resident owners.
-25-
The Council also has the authority to create a dis­trict
without a petition. The city usually acts as the a­gent
for the district. Plans, specifications, contract
forms, engineering, supervision and assessment rolls
are prepared by the engineering division. Advertise­ment
and collection of assessments are assumed by the
city clerk's office. Usually the actual construction is
let by contract on the basis of competitive bids. The
contractor is paid in warrants drawing 5% interest un­til
redeemed. Local improvement districts are usually
formed when several properties are involved for such
improvements as street paving, street widening, con­crete
curb, gutter and sidewalk, sewers, street flush­ing
and street lighting. Maintenance of the streets is
financed from general tax revenue.
The Bureau of Engineering, headed by the city en­gineer
appointed by the mayor with the advice and con­sent
of the city council, has charge of. all public construc­tion
requiring the skill of an engineer. It has super­vision
of the maps and plats of the city's water courses,
sewers, drains, geographical aspects, and streets.
The bureau is also responsible for the numbering and
naming of streets and highways, the opening or platting
of new subdivisions and supervision of the contruction
of all sewers and drains on the public streets or thor­oughfares.
Bureau of Streets, Rivers and Gulches is headed
by a superintendent of streets who is appointed by the
mayor with the advice and consent of the city council.
The bureau has control over the maintenance, repair
and upkeep of all streets, alleys and public ways with­ing
the jurisdiction of the department of public works.
It supervises the construction, repair, upkeep and
maintenance of all flood control projects of the city.
Headquarters are maintained at the Boise City Shops,
825 South 17th Street. Street maintenance involves such
varied activities as:
1. Street cleaning and flushing
2. Leaf Removal
3. Cleaning drain lines
-26-
4. Grading of gravel, sand or dirt streets
5. Sanding icy streets
6. Sanding dirt alleys
7. Patching pavements
8. Seal-coating streets
9. Constructing small bridges
10. Rebuilding streets to grade.
The street division is also responsible for putting up
flags and decorations for special occasions.
The Bureau of Sewage Disposal, with the responsi­bility
of operating and maintaining Boise's sewage treat­ment
plant is described under the section "Public Sani­tation"
as is the bureau of waste disposal. -
The Traffic Division is headed by a superintendent
of traffic appointed by the mayor with the advice and
consent of the city council. This division works in
close cooperation with the police department in provid­ing
and maintaining signals for control of vehicular and
pedestrian traffic. The division has cooperated with
the police department and the engineering division in
setting up the one-way street grid which went into opera­tion
in 1957.
UTILITIES
The Idaho Power Company, a private utility, fur­nishes
electric power to Boise City. The Intermoun­tain
Gas Company obtained a city franchise from Boise
City in 1956; the Mountain States Telephone and Tele­graph
Company serves the Boise area; the Boise Water
corporation sul>plies domestic water; the Consumers
Water Company distributes irrigation water from the
Boise River; and the Boise Bus Company schedules eight
buses which cover a total of 1200 miles per day. These
utility and transportation companies are all private cor­porations.
The only publicly owned transportation
facility is the Boise Municipal Airport (see page 29).
-27-
PUBLIC PROPERTIES
The Board of Park Commissioners, composed of
five members appointed by the mayor with the advice
and consent of the city council, supervises Rose Hill
Cemetery, the parks, and playgrounds owned by Boise
City. The board serves without compensation and is
authorized to employ superintendents, custodians and
other help required, to fix the salaries and duties of
all employees and to purchase all materials and sup­plies
needed. Special funds known as the park fund and
the cemetery fund have been created in the city treasury.
The city council includes in its annual budget an appro­priation
from general revenue for each of the funds.
Boise has three municipal swimming pools. Two
of them are 60 by 90 foot surface pools. One is located
near Lowell School on North 28th Street and the other is
located on the bench near South Junior High School on
Shoshone Street. The third pool, the Natatorium was
built in 1892. It was purchased by the city and rebuilt
in 1951. It is a 60 by 120 foot natural hot water pool.
It is located in the east end near Adams School on Warm
Springs Avenue.
The city owns and operates 22 developed and unde­veloped
parks, including Julia Davis park where there
are paved tennis courts, a rose garden, zoo, band shell,
playground and picnic facilities. A boating concession
provides rowboats and canoes. There is also a refresh­ment
stand. The city maintains recreation grounds and
equipment at many of the other city parks.
The city owns and operates Boise Municipal Air­port
under the airport commission. This commission
consists of the mayor, councilman in charge of the air­port,
city attorney and five members appointed by the
mayor, including a licensed pilot and a qualified en­gineer
or architect. The members serve without com­pensation
except for actual expenses. A salaried· air­port
manager, appointed by the mayor, is in charge of
the airport and collects fees due Boise City for the use
-28-
of the airport. Two airlines provide service to the
Boise area - United Airlines and West Coast Airlines.
There are three private airports providing service
to the Boise area -- Bradley Field on Highway 20, Camp­bell
Air Park on Strawberry Glen Road, and the Float­ing
Feather Airport on Highway 15. Idaho ranks fifth
in the nation in the number of private aircraft, mostly
because of the inaccessibility of primitive areas and
because mountainous roads make distances even longer.
* * * *
EDUCATION
Boise schools are administered by Independent
School District #1 which is one of three school districts,
operating under territorial charter in the state. The
board of trustees is the governing body and is responsi­ble
for school policies and curriculum. The superin­tendent,
who is selected by the board of trustees, is the
executive head, carrying out policies formed by the
board. The seven members of the board serve for six
years without compensation and must be property own­ers
and residents of the school district. Regular meet­ings
are held the second Monday of each month, usually
at 7;30 p.m. in the School Administration Building at
1207 Fort Street. These meetings are open to the pub­lic.
There are 19 elementary schools, four junior high
schools, and one senior high school, with a second senior
high to be completed in 1958. All children, from age
7 to 16, except the physically handicapped, are required
by law to attend school. One hundred seventy eight
school days of attendance are mandatory.
Money to support the schools is received fromstate
and county apportionment and by local taxes. Approxi­mately
three-fourths of this comes from the school dis­trict
and one-fourth from other sources. The per pupil
expenditure in 1956-57 was $223.41. The school build-
-29-
ing program is financed through revenue bond issues
which two-thirds of the qualified resident, real proper­ty
taxpayers of Boise must approve at a bond election.
Teachers' retirement is provided for under the
Federal Social Security Act although they have the right
to elect membership in the Idaho State Teachers' Re­tirement
system as well. The average number of pupils
per teacher in 1957 was 33-35 in the elementary schools;
30-33 in the junior highs; and 27-30 in the senior high.
There is a school lunch program in the elementary
schools which is provided through federal funds from
the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Eight lunchrooms
are operated by the schools and ten by the P. T. A.
Private schools in the city include Boise Bible
College, Boise Secretarial Center, Grimm's School of
Business, Link's School of Business, St. Mary's School,
St. Teresa's Academy, St. Joseph's School and Wes­tern
Christian College. There are approximately 20 pri­vate
kindergartens with 12 of them included in the
Boise Valley Kindergarten Teachers' Association.
Boise Junior College is a public institution which
operates under its own board of trustees and in its own
separate district. Fifty percent of its support comes
from county taxes, amounting to approximately $450, 000
per annum. It offers night courses on any subject for
which the college has a qualified instructor upon re­quest
of any group of ten to fifteen interested adults.
These cover academic, vocational and some apprentice
courses. The college buildings are available on a ren­tal
bas is to educational conferences. Its library facili­ties
are available to townspeople on payment of a $5
deposit.
LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS
There is one city library in Boise located at 815
Washington which was built in 1905 with money obtained
-30-
from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation. Since its com­pletion
the city has paid all its expenses and it is com­pletely
tax-supported. A library board of five members
is appointed by the city council. Their term is for
three years; two members being appointed one year,
two the next, and one person appointed the third year.
All members serve without salary. The Board meets
once a month and approves the administration of the
library facilities. It fixes the salary of the chief libra­rian
and her assistants whom the board appoints. Be­sides
the chief librarian, there are 13 full-time staff
members, two book menders, one full-time custodian,
one part-time custodian, and six clerical pages.
The library is stocked with magazines, non-fiction
reference material, fiction. It is a member of the
Pacific Northwest Bibliographic Center which provides
an inter-library loan service thus making many more
books available to Boise City residents. The library
offers reference service where interested individuals
or groups may ask for sources on a selected topic.
Another service offered is the young peoples section,
featuring books from the adult collection which also
appeal to students of high school age and above. There
are regular programs designed to encourage use of
library facilities by this group. Records are circulated
from the children's section. The two children's libra­rians
spend a half day each week in the elementary
schools presenting a program planned to develop read­ing
interest. The library also cooperates with groups
to display library materials related to community ac­tivities.
Boise has no city museums but the State Historical
Museum is located in Julia Davis Park. A trained cura­tor
is in charge and the museum affords a genuine
glimpse into the pioneer days of Boise and of Idaho.
The Art Gallery is also located in the park on North
Capitol Boulevard with programs and exhibits under the
direction of the Boise Art Association. The Gallery
was built under WP A with federal and city funds. The
-31-
city now pays for building maintenance and part-time
janitorial help.
The State Traveling Library is also housed in the
State Historical Museum, at 615 Fulton Street. It is an
organization designed to provide modern library ser­vice
to all Idaho residents. It gives librarians and li­brary
trustees information and advice in maintaining
and developing their libraries.
****
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
The Recreation Committee of Boise City is com­posed
of ten members appo.inted by the mayor with the
approval of the council, with five of the members be­ing
the superintendent of parks, chairman of the city
planning committee, chairman of the board of park
commissioners, superintendent of public schools and
chairman of the board of trustees of public schools of
Boise City for the length of their respective terms of
office. The other five members serve as follows:
three for one year terms and two for two year terms.
The committee makes rules and regulations involv­ing
playgrounds., parks, recreational facilities and per­sonnel
under the control of the board of park commis­sioners.
The committee uses a trust fund known as
the recreatiqn fund to provide recreation activities.
This fund was created in 1956 and consists of any dona­tion
of money or property which is held in a separate
fund, apart from any city funds, with the mayor and
council as trustees.
SUMMER RECREATION PROGRAM
There is a summer playground program, held in
the city parks and on some of the public school grounds.
The program offers handicraft work, organized games,
-32-
swimming, dancing, life-saving courses and music in­struction.
The city maintains three swimming pools.
Recreational equipment and playgrounds are maintained
in some of the city's 22 parks. The city band presents
a series of summer concerts usually once a week in
Julia Davis Park.
Hunting, fishing, boating, swimming and picnic
facilities are available at Lucky Peak Dam just a short
drive out of Boise on State Highway 21.
WINTER RECREATION PROGRAM
Bogus Basin is the ski area located in the moun­tains
northeast of Boise at the end of a road maintained
by the county. The Recreation Committee supervises
a ski school here although Bogus Basin itself is run by
a private corporation. There is a warming house and
a concession stand operated during the skiing season.
There are two ski-lift systems; a T-bar lift and a Poma­list
lift. City buses are scheduled to carry skiers on
Saturdays up to the Basin. A volunteer ski patrol guards
the ski runs every Saturday and Sunday, while the auxi­liary
state police organization patrols the road leading
to the skiiing area. There is a parking fee used for
the maintenance of the road and the parking lot.
A high school youth activities group center spon­sors
dances and special events. The Y. W. C. A. and
Y. M. C. A. provide facilities for organized sports,
swimming, and dances. Boise has two golf courses.
two roller skating rinks, two bowling alleys and seven
theaters, including two drive-ins.
The Boise Little Theater Group has just completed
an unusual circular building at 100 Fort Street. It
seats 384 persons and the group presents five or six
plays a year. The Boise Civic Symphony is an orches­tra
composed of musicians from the Boise Valley area.
The Boise Concert Series sponsors four or five visit-
-33-
ing musical groups or artists a year.
A Music Week Festival is held in May. It includes
band, choral, school, college and fiesta programs on
five nights.
The Western Idaho State Fair is held at the state
fairgrounds on Fairview Avenue the last week of August.
Horse and livestock shows, Fourth of July celebrations,
evangelistic meetings and rodeos are among events sched­uled
yearly at the fairgrounds.
A cannery for the use of citizens of the area is
located on the fairgrounds. It is owned and managed
by Ada County.
****
CITY PLANNING AND ZONING
The Boise City Planning Commission consists of
the mayor and city attorney as ex-officio members,
with the city clerk acting as secretary. Not less than
seven and not more than twelve members are appointed
by the mayor, at least one of whom shall be a· qualified
civil engineer. Members serve without compensation.
The commission meets once every month and more
often if necessary. The duty of the planning commis­sion
is to study the economic, social and physical con­ditions
of Boise City, in regard to development and
regulation of all public utilities , and property. It rec­ommends
plans consistent with the future growth and
development of Boise.
Some of the major proposals considered and re-commended
during the past ten years are as follows:
1. Street widening program-- 1947
2. New fire station bond issue -- 1950
3. Sewage Treatment Plant-- 1950
4. Americana Boulevard-- 1950
-34-
ZONING
The city of Boise is divided into six districts as
follows: "A" residence; "B" residence, "C" commer­cial;
"D" commercial; "E" industrial and "F" unre­stricted
zones. The zoning regulations specify what
type of building can be constructed in these zones and
also to what use the buildings can be put. Applications
for special permits which vary from the zoning regu­lations
are filed with the building inspector. He refers
them to the board of adjustment. This board consists
of five members, whose compensation is fixed by the
city council. It considers, after a public h~aring is
held, whether or not the public welfare will be served
by such a permit.
****
BUILDING CODE
The city building inspector is responsible for
housing standards in Boise City. He is appointed by
the mayor with the approval of the council. The city
has a comprehensive building code in which different
scales for new buildings and remodeling are listed. All
building must first be permitted by the inspector and
must meet standard requirements. The city fire de­partment
handles the aspect of housing which concerns
the installation of oil and gas tanks.
Within the building department is a division of
smoke regulation and control. The mayor appoints a
deputy building inspector to manage the division. The
mayor may appoint an advisory committee of three
members subject to the approval of the council, to
serve without pay. These are representative citizens
interested in the subject of smoke abatement.
The building inspector works closely with five
boards; the Board of Adjustment, Board of Examiners,
Board of Appeals, Plumbers Examining Board, and
Electrician Examiners. He also works with the fir.e
-35-
department and Boise City Planning Commission.
****
CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM
A city civil service system has been established
for only the fire and police departments. All appoint­ments
and promotions in these two departments are
made on the basis of merit and fitness determined by
competitive and physical examinations. The civil ser­vice
commission consists of three members appointed
by the mayor for terms of two, four and six years. They
are resident registered electors and may not hold any
public office or be an employee of Boise City. They
serve without compensation except for actual necessary
expenses. The commission submits a budget coyering
all its estimated expenses for the year to the city coun­cil.
The commission classifies all jobs in each depart­ment.
It conducts examinations often enough to provide
an eligible list of at least three persons for each posi­tion.
All examinations are open and competitive and
each applicant must file a certificate from the city phy­sician
that he has met the requirements of a complete
physical examination. The commission investigates and
keeps a record of the efficiency of all employees under
a merit system with periodical examinations.
RETIREMENT FUND
Boise City Retirement Fund which consists of all
moneys received from contributions by employees, con­tributions
from Boise City, investments and donations
is administered by a Boise City Retirement Board. It
consists of nine members; the mayor as chairman,
president of the city council, city attorney, chairman
of the civil service commission, chairman of the library
-36-
board, the city clerk as secretary, and three represen­tatives
of the employees of Boise City elected by the em­ployees
on the second Tuesday of July. Any employee
who has reached the age of 65 and has had at least 20
years' service as an employee of Boise City is eligibh.
for retirement and retirement benefits.
A direct annual tax is levied upon all taxable pro­perty
within Boise City to provide funds for the retire­ment
system. It is a special tax for special fund pur­poses.
It cannot exceed one mill on the dollar on all
taxable property within Boise City.
FIREMEN'S RETIREMENT FUND
There is a fund known as the firemen's retire­ment
fund in the treasury of Boise. It was created in
1945 and provides that a special tax shall be levied to
raise a sum of money equivalent to two per cent of the
salaries and wages paid Boise City firemen. The levy
is not to exceed one-half of one mill. This money is
paid to the Firemen's Retirement Fund of the State of
Idaho.
****
POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS, ELECTIONS
City elections are held on the first Tuesday in
April every odd year. In order to qualify to vote in any
city election, an elector must be registered in his vot­ing
precinct. In order to register the elector must:
1. Be a citizen of the United States over 21 years
of age
2. Be a resident of Idaho for six months
3. Be a resident of Boise one month (30 days)
-37-
4. Be a resident of the precinct 10 days
5. Residence must be fixed in city
6. Voter must have intention to have permanent
residence in city
Registration is permanent if the citizen does not
move from his precinct and casts votes in every muni­cipal
election. However, if the citizen does not vote
in a municipal election, he is stricken from the regis­tration
books and even though he is registered and
votes in a general election, he must re-register in or­der
to vote in a municipal election.
The mayor is elected for a two year term and two
city councilmen are elected for four years each at
every general municipal election. They are elected at
large from 15 voting precincts.
Candidates for local offices are nominated by the
filing of a petition which must be signed by 25 qualified
registered electors. The nominating petition must be
filed not less than 30 days nor more than 45 days be­fore
elections. The city clerk must have published the
names of candidates in at least one issue of an official
newspaper of Boise City at least 10 days before the
election.
The citizens of Boise City also have power to direct
legislation by the initiative and referendum and also the
power of re~oval by recall of the holder of any office,
whether elected or appointed.
Elections are on the basis of non-partisan ballots.
If there is but one person to be elected to any office,
a simple majority of the votes cast is required but if
there are two or more persons to be elected to an office,
then individual candidates who receive the highest num­ber
votes greater than one-half the number of ballots
cast for such office shall be elected.
Precincts, registrations and election dates do NOT
conform to those of the general elections for federal,
state and county officers - or for school trustees or
Junior College trustees.
-38-
SUPPLEMENT NO. I
City Officials - as of May 1, 1958
Mayor------------------- Mr. R. E. Edlefsen
City Councilmen---------- Mr. Harold T. Jones
(president)
Mrs. Anna Hettinger
Mr. Vern Morris
Mr. Henry F. Koch
City Magistrate----------- Mr. Dale 0. Morgan
Assistant City Magistrate-- Mr. Sumner De~ano, Jr.
City Attorney-------------Mr. C. Stanley Skiles
City Clerk and Auditor-----Mr. Fred Bagley
City Treasurer----.,------- Mr. Patrick J. Vaughan
Police Chief--------------Mr. F. T. Demarest
Fire Chief--------------- Mr. Steve Taylor
City Engineer and Acting
Commissioner of Public
Works -----------------Mr. J. L. Morris
Superintendent of City .
Shops ------------------Mr. Donald G. White
Building Inspector---------Mr. P. M. Roberts
Airport Manager----------Mr. Don A. Duvall
Librarian---------------- Miss Marion Bingham
Superintendent of Sewage
Disposal Plant---------- Mr. A. J. Wahl
Recreation Director------- Mr. W. E. Everts, Jr.
Police Matron------------ Miss Luella Turner
Park Superintendent and
Sexton----------------- Mr. Gordon A. Bowen
-39-
SUPPLEMENT NO. TI
Public Service Phone Numbers
City Clerk--------------------------------- 2-4621
• County Clerk (registration information) 3-7 ":)'~ 1
Fire Department (to report a fire)------------- 2-4561
Police Department---------------------------2-4511
Sewer Service Calls (all hours) --------------- 3-9781
Sheriff ------------------------------------- 2-4518
Humane Society Dog Pound--------------------3-3451
City-County Health Department----------------4-3553
Ada County Welfare Department-------------- 3-3635
School Administratio:p. ----------------------- 2-4543
Boise Junior College------------------------- 3-2541
Public Library------------------------------ 3-7505
-40-

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Full-text

Here is
BOiSE, IDAHO
"City of Trees"
TO B 0 VIE A MEMBER.
R hi'0Rl't7ATION PH. 2- 0337
......----,--
HERE IS
BOISE, IDAHO
... (
Compiled by
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
OF BOISE
~
509 single copy
409 ten or more copies
IUAHO STATE LIBRARY
BOiSE, IDAHO
FOREWORD
This booklet is a summary of the facts gathered
in the course of a "Know Your Town" survey conducted
by the Boise League of Women Voters. This information
on Boise has been compiled as a public service to the
citizens of Boise that they may be better acquainted with
the duties of the officials they elect and with the services
provided by the city government. While the booklet deals
primarily with facilities of Boise City government, it al­so
includes services provided by public agencies not only
to citizens within the city limits but to those residents of
the vicinity comprising the area known as Greater Boise.
The League of Women Voters of the United States
is a non-partisan organization formed in 1920 and is de­voted
to the purpose of promoting informed and active
participation of citizens in government.
The League wishes to acknowledge with apprecia­tion
the courtesy and help extended to them by the many
officials of the city and social agencies in the community
who assisted in the preparation of this booklet. League
members who have assisted in the study include Mrs.
C. R. Schweitzer, chairman, Mrs. Leslie Dieter, Mrs.
Edna Carpenter, Mrs. Terrill Carver, Mrs. W. L.
Venning, Mrs. E. N. Torbert, Mrs. Charles Cortright,
and Mrs. Hal Pickett. Cover illustration by Mr. Bill
Hart.
i!'
~ z
al
~o z­•~
s
;plies domestic water; the Consumers
Water Company distributes irrigation water from the
Boise River; and the Boise Bus Company schedules eight
buses which cover a total of 1200 miles per day. These
utility and transportation companies are all private cor­porations.
The only publicly owned transportation
facility is the Boise Municipal Airport (see page 29).
-27-
PUBLIC PROPERTIES
The Board of Park Commissioners, composed of
five members appointed by the mayor with the advice
and consent of the city council, supervises Rose Hill
Cemetery, the parks, and playgrounds owned by Boise
City. The board serves without compensation and is
authorized to employ superintendents, custodians and
other help required, to fix the salaries and duties of
all employees and to purchase all materials and sup­plies
needed. Special funds known as the park fund and
the cemetery fund have been created in the city treasury.
The city council includes in its annual budget an appro­priation
from general revenue for each of the funds.
Boise has three municipal swimming pools. Two
of them are 60 by 90 foot surface pools. One is located
near Lowell School on North 28th Street and the other is
located on the bench near South Junior High School on
Shoshone Street. The third pool, the Natatorium was
built in 1892. It was purchased by the city and rebuilt
in 1951. It is a 60 by 120 foot natural hot water pool.
It is located in the east end near Adams School on Warm
Springs Avenue.
The city owns and operates 22 developed and unde­veloped
parks, including Julia Davis park where there
are paved tennis courts, a rose garden, zoo, band shell,
playground and picnic facilities. A boating concession
provides rowboats and canoes. There is also a refresh­ment
stand. The city maintains recreation grounds and
equipment at many of the other city parks.
The city owns and operates Boise Municipal Air­port
under the airport commission. This commission
consists of the mayor, councilman in charge of the air­port,
city attorney and five members appointed by the
mayor, including a licensed pilot and a qualified en­gineer
or architect. The members serve without com­pensation
except for actual expenses. A salaried· air­port
manager, appointed by the mayor, is in charge of
the airport and collects fees due Boise City for the use
-28-
of the airport. Two airlines provide service to the
Boise area - United Airlines and West Coast Airlines.
There are three private airports providing service
to the Boise area -- Bradley Field on Highway 20, Camp­bell
Air Park on Strawberry Glen Road, and the Float­ing
Feather Airport on Highway 15. Idaho ranks fifth
in the nation in the number of private aircraft, mostly
because of the inaccessibility of primitive areas and
because mountainous roads make distances even longer.
* * * *
EDUCATION
Boise schools are administered by Independent
School District #1 which is one of three school districts,
operating under territorial charter in the state. The
board of trustees is the governing body and is responsi­ble
for school policies and curriculum. The superin­tendent,
who is selected by the board of trustees, is the
executive head, carrying out policies formed by the
board. The seven members of the board serve for six
years without compensation and must be property own­ers
and residents of the school district. Regular meet­ings
are held the second Monday of each month, usually
at 7;30 p.m. in the School Administration Building at
1207 Fort Street. These meetings are open to the pub­lic.
There are 19 elementary schools, four junior high
schools, and one senior high school, with a second senior
high to be completed in 1958. All children, from age
7 to 16, except the physically handicapped, are required
by law to attend school. One hundred seventy eight
school days of attendance are mandatory.
Money to support the schools is received fromstate
and county apportionment and by local taxes. Approxi­mately
three-fourths of this comes from the school dis­trict
and one-fourth from other sources. The per pupil
expenditure in 1956-57 was $223.41. The school build-
-29-
ing program is financed through revenue bond issues
which two-thirds of the qualified resident, real proper­ty
taxpayers of Boise must approve at a bond election.
Teachers' retirement is provided for under the
Federal Social Security Act although they have the right
to elect membership in the Idaho State Teachers' Re­tirement
system as well. The average number of pupils
per teacher in 1957 was 33-35 in the elementary schools;
30-33 in the junior highs; and 27-30 in the senior high.
There is a school lunch program in the elementary
schools which is provided through federal funds from
the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Eight lunchrooms
are operated by the schools and ten by the P. T. A.
Private schools in the city include Boise Bible
College, Boise Secretarial Center, Grimm's School of
Business, Link's School of Business, St. Mary's School,
St. Teresa's Academy, St. Joseph's School and Wes­tern
Christian College. There are approximately 20 pri­vate
kindergartens with 12 of them included in the
Boise Valley Kindergarten Teachers' Association.
Boise Junior College is a public institution which
operates under its own board of trustees and in its own
separate district. Fifty percent of its support comes
from county taxes, amounting to approximately $450, 000
per annum. It offers night courses on any subject for
which the college has a qualified instructor upon re­quest
of any group of ten to fifteen interested adults.
These cover academic, vocational and some apprentice
courses. The college buildings are available on a ren­tal
bas is to educational conferences. Its library facili­ties
are available to townspeople on payment of a $5
deposit.
LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS
There is one city library in Boise located at 815
Washington which was built in 1905 with money obtained
-30-
from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation. Since its com­pletion
the city has paid all its expenses and it is com­pletely
tax-supported. A library board of five members
is appointed by the city council. Their term is for
three years; two members being appointed one year,
two the next, and one person appointed the third year.
All members serve without salary. The Board meets
once a month and approves the administration of the
library facilities. It fixes the salary of the chief libra­rian
and her assistants whom the board appoints. Be­sides
the chief librarian, there are 13 full-time staff
members, two book menders, one full-time custodian,
one part-time custodian, and six clerical pages.
The library is stocked with magazines, non-fiction
reference material, fiction. It is a member of the
Pacific Northwest Bibliographic Center which provides
an inter-library loan service thus making many more
books available to Boise City residents. The library
offers reference service where interested individuals
or groups may ask for sources on a selected topic.
Another service offered is the young peoples section,
featuring books from the adult collection which also
appeal to students of high school age and above. There
are regular programs designed to encourage use of
library facilities by this group. Records are circulated
from the children's section. The two children's libra­rians
spend a half day each week in the elementary
schools presenting a program planned to develop read­ing
interest. The library also cooperates with groups
to display library materials related to community ac­tivities.
Boise has no city museums but the State Historical
Museum is located in Julia Davis Park. A trained cura­tor
is in charge and the museum affords a genuine
glimpse into the pioneer days of Boise and of Idaho.
The Art Gallery is also located in the park on North
Capitol Boulevard with programs and exhibits under the
direction of the Boise Art Association. The Gallery
was built under WP A with federal and city funds. The
-31-
city now pays for building maintenance and part-time
janitorial help.
The State Traveling Library is also housed in the
State Historical Museum, at 615 Fulton Street. It is an
organization designed to provide modern library ser­vice
to all Idaho residents. It gives librarians and li­brary
trustees information and advice in maintaining
and developing their libraries.
****
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
The Recreation Committee of Boise City is com­posed
of ten members appo.inted by the mayor with the
approval of the council, with five of the members be­ing
the superintendent of parks, chairman of the city
planning committee, chairman of the board of park
commissioners, superintendent of public schools and
chairman of the board of trustees of public schools of
Boise City for the length of their respective terms of
office. The other five members serve as follows:
three for one year terms and two for two year terms.
The committee makes rules and regulations involv­ing
playgrounds., parks, recreational facilities and per­sonnel
under the control of the board of park commis­sioners.
The committee uses a trust fund known as
the recreatiqn fund to provide recreation activities.
This fund was created in 1956 and consists of any dona­tion
of money or property which is held in a separate
fund, apart from any city funds, with the mayor and
council as trustees.
SUMMER RECREATION PROGRAM
There is a summer playground program, held in
the city parks and on some of the public school grounds.
The program offers handicraft work, organized games,
-32-
swimming, dancing, life-saving courses and music in­struction.
The city maintains three swimming pools.
Recreational equipment and playgrounds are maintained
in some of the city's 22 parks. The city band presents
a series of summer concerts usually once a week in
Julia Davis Park.
Hunting, fishing, boating, swimming and picnic
facilities are available at Lucky Peak Dam just a short
drive out of Boise on State Highway 21.
WINTER RECREATION PROGRAM
Bogus Basin is the ski area located in the moun­tains
northeast of Boise at the end of a road maintained
by the county. The Recreation Committee supervises
a ski school here although Bogus Basin itself is run by
a private corporation. There is a warming house and
a concession stand operated during the skiing season.
There are two ski-lift systems; a T-bar lift and a Poma­list
lift. City buses are scheduled to carry skiers on
Saturdays up to the Basin. A volunteer ski patrol guards
the ski runs every Saturday and Sunday, while the auxi­liary
state police organization patrols the road leading
to the skiiing area. There is a parking fee used for
the maintenance of the road and the parking lot.
A high school youth activities group center spon­sors
dances and special events. The Y. W. C. A. and
Y. M. C. A. provide facilities for organized sports,
swimming, and dances. Boise has two golf courses.
two roller skating rinks, two bowling alleys and seven
theaters, including two drive-ins.
The Boise Little Theater Group has just completed
an unusual circular building at 100 Fort Street. It
seats 384 persons and the group presents five or six
plays a year. The Boise Civic Symphony is an orches­tra
composed of musicians from the Boise Valley area.
The Boise Concert Series sponsors four or five visit-
-33-
ing musical groups or artists a year.
A Music Week Festival is held in May. It includes
band, choral, school, college and fiesta programs on
five nights.
The Western Idaho State Fair is held at the state
fairgrounds on Fairview Avenue the last week of August.
Horse and livestock shows, Fourth of July celebrations,
evangelistic meetings and rodeos are among events sched­uled
yearly at the fairgrounds.
A cannery for the use of citizens of the area is
located on the fairgrounds. It is owned and managed
by Ada County.
****
CITY PLANNING AND ZONING
The Boise City Planning Commission consists of
the mayor and city attorney as ex-officio members,
with the city clerk acting as secretary. Not less than
seven and not more than twelve members are appointed
by the mayor, at least one of whom shall be a· qualified
civil engineer. Members serve without compensation.
The commission meets once every month and more
often if necessary. The duty of the planning commis­sion
is to study the economic, social and physical con­ditions
of Boise City, in regard to development and
regulation of all public utilities , and property. It rec­ommends
plans consistent with the future growth and
development of Boise.
Some of the major proposals considered and re-commended
during the past ten years are as follows:
1. Street widening program-- 1947
2. New fire station bond issue -- 1950
3. Sewage Treatment Plant-- 1950
4. Americana Boulevard-- 1950
-34-
ZONING
The city of Boise is divided into six districts as
follows: "A" residence; "B" residence, "C" commer­cial;
"D" commercial; "E" industrial and "F" unre­stricted
zones. The zoning regulations specify what
type of building can be constructed in these zones and
also to what use the buildings can be put. Applications
for special permits which vary from the zoning regu­lations
are filed with the building inspector. He refers
them to the board of adjustment. This board consists
of five members, whose compensation is fixed by the
city council. It considers, after a public h~aring is
held, whether or not the public welfare will be served
by such a permit.
****
BUILDING CODE
The city building inspector is responsible for
housing standards in Boise City. He is appointed by
the mayor with the approval of the council. The city
has a comprehensive building code in which different
scales for new buildings and remodeling are listed. All
building must first be permitted by the inspector and
must meet standard requirements. The city fire de­partment
handles the aspect of housing which concerns
the installation of oil and gas tanks.
Within the building department is a division of
smoke regulation and control. The mayor appoints a
deputy building inspector to manage the division. The
mayor may appoint an advisory committee of three
members subject to the approval of the council, to
serve without pay. These are representative citizens
interested in the subject of smoke abatement.
The building inspector works closely with five
boards; the Board of Adjustment, Board of Examiners,
Board of Appeals, Plumbers Examining Board, and
Electrician Examiners. He also works with the fir.e
-35-
department and Boise City Planning Commission.
****
CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM
A city civil service system has been established
for only the fire and police departments. All appoint­ments
and promotions in these two departments are
made on the basis of merit and fitness determined by
competitive and physical examinations. The civil ser­vice
commission consists of three members appointed
by the mayor for terms of two, four and six years. They
are resident registered electors and may not hold any
public office or be an employee of Boise City. They
serve without compensation except for actual necessary
expenses. The commission submits a budget coyering
all its estimated expenses for the year to the city coun­cil.
The commission classifies all jobs in each depart­ment.
It conducts examinations often enough to provide
an eligible list of at least three persons for each posi­tion.
All examinations are open and competitive and
each applicant must file a certificate from the city phy­sician
that he has met the requirements of a complete
physical examination. The commission investigates and
keeps a record of the efficiency of all employees under
a merit system with periodical examinations.
RETIREMENT FUND
Boise City Retirement Fund which consists of all
moneys received from contributions by employees, con­tributions
from Boise City, investments and donations
is administered by a Boise City Retirement Board. It
consists of nine members; the mayor as chairman,
president of the city council, city attorney, chairman
of the civil service commission, chairman of the library
-36-
board, the city clerk as secretary, and three represen­tatives
of the employees of Boise City elected by the em­ployees
on the second Tuesday of July. Any employee
who has reached the age of 65 and has had at least 20
years' service as an employee of Boise City is eligibh.
for retirement and retirement benefits.
A direct annual tax is levied upon all taxable pro­perty
within Boise City to provide funds for the retire­ment
system. It is a special tax for special fund pur­poses.
It cannot exceed one mill on the dollar on all
taxable property within Boise City.
FIREMEN'S RETIREMENT FUND
There is a fund known as the firemen's retire­ment
fund in the treasury of Boise. It was created in
1945 and provides that a special tax shall be levied to
raise a sum of money equivalent to two per cent of the
salaries and wages paid Boise City firemen. The levy
is not to exceed one-half of one mill. This money is
paid to the Firemen's Retirement Fund of the State of
Idaho.
****
POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS, ELECTIONS
City elections are held on the first Tuesday in
April every odd year. In order to qualify to vote in any
city election, an elector must be registered in his vot­ing
precinct. In order to register the elector must:
1. Be a citizen of the United States over 21 years
of age
2. Be a resident of Idaho for six months
3. Be a resident of Boise one month (30 days)
-37-
4. Be a resident of the precinct 10 days
5. Residence must be fixed in city
6. Voter must have intention to have permanent
residence in city
Registration is permanent if the citizen does not
move from his precinct and casts votes in every muni­cipal
election. However, if the citizen does not vote
in a municipal election, he is stricken from the regis­tration
books and even though he is registered and
votes in a general election, he must re-register in or­der
to vote in a municipal election.
The mayor is elected for a two year term and two
city councilmen are elected for four years each at
every general municipal election. They are elected at
large from 15 voting precincts.
Candidates for local offices are nominated by the
filing of a petition which must be signed by 25 qualified
registered electors. The nominating petition must be
filed not less than 30 days nor more than 45 days be­fore
elections. The city clerk must have published the
names of candidates in at least one issue of an official
newspaper of Boise City at least 10 days before the
election.
The citizens of Boise City also have power to direct
legislation by the initiative and referendum and also the
power of re~oval by recall of the holder of any office,
whether elected or appointed.
Elections are on the basis of non-partisan ballots.
If there is but one person to be elected to any office,
a simple majority of the votes cast is required but if
there are two or more persons to be elected to an office,
then individual candidates who receive the highest num­ber
votes greater than one-half the number of ballots
cast for such office shall be elected.
Precincts, registrations and election dates do NOT
conform to those of the general elections for federal,
state and county officers - or for school trustees or
Junior College trustees.
-38-
SUPPLEMENT NO. I
City Officials - as of May 1, 1958
Mayor------------------- Mr. R. E. Edlefsen
City Councilmen---------- Mr. Harold T. Jones
(president)
Mrs. Anna Hettinger
Mr. Vern Morris
Mr. Henry F. Koch
City Magistrate----------- Mr. Dale 0. Morgan
Assistant City Magistrate-- Mr. Sumner De~ano, Jr.
City Attorney-------------Mr. C. Stanley Skiles
City Clerk and Auditor-----Mr. Fred Bagley
City Treasurer----.,------- Mr. Patrick J. Vaughan
Police Chief--------------Mr. F. T. Demarest
Fire Chief--------------- Mr. Steve Taylor
City Engineer and Acting
Commissioner of Public
Works -----------------Mr. J. L. Morris
Superintendent of City .
Shops ------------------Mr. Donald G. White
Building Inspector---------Mr. P. M. Roberts
Airport Manager----------Mr. Don A. Duvall
Librarian---------------- Miss Marion Bingham
Superintendent of Sewage
Disposal Plant---------- Mr. A. J. Wahl
Recreation Director------- Mr. W. E. Everts, Jr.
Police Matron------------ Miss Luella Turner
Park Superintendent and
Sexton----------------- Mr. Gordon A. Bowen
-39-
SUPPLEMENT NO. TI
Public Service Phone Numbers
City Clerk--------------------------------- 2-4621
• County Clerk (registration information) 3-7 ":)'~ 1
Fire Department (to report a fire)------------- 2-4561
Police Department---------------------------2-4511
Sewer Service Calls (all hours) --------------- 3-9781
Sheriff ------------------------------------- 2-4518
Humane Society Dog Pound--------------------3-3451
City-County Health Department----------------4-3553
Ada County Welfare Department-------------- 3-3635
School Administratio:p. ----------------------- 2-4543
Boise Junior College------------------------- 3-2541
Public Library------------------------------ 3-7505
-40-